#WordForTodayDevotional
Wednesday June 15, 2022
CHARACTERISTICS OF YAHWEH’S KIND OF LOVE (2): IS KIND
… love is kind and thoughtful, …
I Corinthians 13:4 (AMP)
The second attribute of the Yahweh-kind of love is kindness. What is it to be kind? The phrase “is kind” in I Corinthians 13:4 is the Greek word chrēsteuomai, from the root word chrēstos, which E. W. Bullinger’s Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament defines as “good, gentle, benevolent…actively beneficent in spite of ingratitude.” Both “benevolent” and “beneficent” describe someone who does good. To be kind is to do good unto others, even if they don’t show appreciation for our gestures. The Yahweh-kind of love is always the answer to the odds of human demeanour. That definition of chresteuomai says ‘actively beneficent in spite of ingratitude’.
When Yahushua HaMashiach taught his disciples how to love with the love of Yahweh, He gave them the example of the kindness of Yahweh. In Luke 6:31,32,35, the word says ’31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love [agapaō] them which love [agapaō] you, what thank [recompense, reward] have ye? for sinners also love [agapaō] those that love [agapaō] them. 35 But love [agapaō] ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind [chrēstos] unto the unthankful and to the evil.’
Yahweh is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. This is the love of Yahweh. We see this expressed in Ephesians 2::4-5: ‘4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love [agapē] wherewith he loved [agapaō] us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)’ We are recipients of Yahweh’s amazing love, for we have experienced His kindness toward us through Yahushua HaMashiach. He loved us even when we were dead in sins. Titus 3:3-6 says ‘3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness [chrēstotēs] and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit]; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.’
Yahweh saved us according to His mercy—not because we deserved it. Yahweh’s love and kindness are not dependent on the goodness or gratitude of others. Extending the kindness of Yahweh to another person, especially when they are unthankful or evil, is a powerful way to positively affect someone’s life and the Lord Yahushua expects you to release kindness today and always to a hurting and ungrateful world.
REMEMBER: The Yahweh-kind of love is benevolent and beneficent in spite of ingratitude.
CONFESSION: I am a kind person and through me the Lord Yahushua is extending kindness to the hurting world around. Oh how much kindness we have received from the Lord!
PROPHETIC RELEASE: Oh that the Lord will manifest His kindness through you to someone in your world today. I decree that you reap the fruit of kindness today in the name of Yahushua HaMashiach Amen!
FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 2:2-10, John 13:26-38
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Read the bible in one year from Old and New Testaments, Psalms and Proverbs.
1 Kings 14:1-15:24; Acts 10:1-23; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 17:7-8
Prince Chimaobim - Royal Life Ministries 